Alighting or landing gear for aircraft



R. K. PIERSON AND'T. S. DUNCAN. ALIGHTING 0R LANDING GEAR FOR AIRCRAFT.

APPLICATION FILED JU NE21, I92]- Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

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2 SHEETSSHEET I.

R. K. PIERSON AND Ls. DUNCAN.

ALIGHTING 0R LANDING GEAR FOR AIRCRAFT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEZI, 192l- 1,399,9U.

Patented Dec. 13,1921.

2'SHEETSSHEET 2.

stares carrier entice.

' REGINALD KIRSHAW PIERSON AND THOMAS SMITH DUNCAN, OF WESTMINSTER,

LQNDON,ENeL ND,.-Ass1eNoRs To VIGKERS LIMITED, or WESTMINSTER, EN

LAND, A BRITISH COMPANY.

AIL-IGHTING OR LANDING GEAR FOR AIRCRAFT.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec.13, 1921.

Application filed June 21, 1921, Serial No. 479,309. Carved out of'applicationon which Patent No. 1,364,518 was granted January 4, 1921, and filed after grant of patent.

1'0 all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that we,'REG1NALD KiRsHAw' 'PrERsoN and THOMAS SMITH DUNCAN, both subjects of the Kipp of Great Britain, residing at Vlckers ouse, Broadway, Vestminster, in the county of London, England,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Alighting or Landing Gears for Aircraft, (for which I have filed an application in England,

#154,657, July 29, 1919,) of which the fol-.

lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to aircraft and has particular reference to seaplanes or hydroaeroplanes of the flying boat type. i

According to this invention we .provide improved landing gear for the above type of aircraft in which the wheels are mounted on angularly movable frames and we provide improved means -for imparting angular movement to the said frames and also improved means for preventing unrequired movement of the said frames.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into eflect, the same will now be described more.

.fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view through the hull or fuselage 'of a flying boat showing one construction of the improved landing gear partly in section at one side and in dot and pick lines at the other side.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view.

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged, detail views.

A represents the hull of the flying boat. B,.B represent the frames at the sides of the hull carrying the landing wheels C, and D represents the transverse operating shaft positioned within the hull; as shown in Fig.

' 1 the sides of the hull are inclined outwardly toward the keel. Each frame B comprises two parallel tubes whose upper ends are united by a bridge piece B which is angularly movable with the frame tubes B on a pin forming part of a bracket to the side of 'the hull. The lower ends of i the frame tubes-are united by a bridge piece 4 or the like B which as shown at B in Figs. 1 and 3 is shaped to fit on or engage with a quadrant to revent lateral or sidewise movement of the raine carrying the landing B secured 1 wheel. The axle C of each landing wheel is supported in a carrier C slidably mounted on the two frame tubes B of each frame and formed or provided with an upward QXtGIlSlOIl C adapted to slide in a guide forming part of a cross member F which is rigidly fixed in the two frame tubes B. The upper end of the extension G carries a cross member F similar to the cross memberF but slidable on the. two frame tubes B; around the ends of the two cross members F F elastic strands F are wound so that when the carrier is moved upwardly relatively to the tube due to a landing shock its movement is resisted and the shock absorbed by the elastic strands; any suitable form of shock absorber such as oleo-pneu-.

ported in bearings on 'the frame B and projecting at its lower end into a socket formed on the part B The lower end of the rod G carries a toothed wheel G the teeth of which are in the form of rounded pegs which are adapted to engage with holes E in the quadrant E secured to the side of the hull. The transverse operating-shaft D may be rotated by chain and sprocket gearing which is actuated by the pilot by means of" a rotary hand wheel which rotates a large sprocket wheel connected by a chain to a small sprocket wheel G on one of the s in dles G. The rotation of this sprocket 'w eel G effects the rotary movement of the shaft and the other spindle G so that the worms G and worm wheels G at the sides of the hull are operated simultaneously for 'enabling the rods G and the toothed wheels G thereonto rotate together so that the toothed wheels will travel along the quadrants by engaging with the holes E formed,

therein thereby angularly moving that frames B at the same time. During thearrof the worm in mesh with the latter and owing to the worm gearing the framesare automatically retained against unrequired movement in any angular position to which they may be adjusted. Each quadrant E may be connected to the bracket portion B by metal strips E which may be secured to the sides of the hull.

At the lower part of the hull an adjustable tie rod H extends between the two sides at points adjacent to the lower parts of the quadrants. The shock absorbers F may be inclosed in stream-line casings as shown for example at F in Figs. 1 and 2.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In an aircraft, the combination with a hull, of angularly movable wheel carrying frames, operating means carried by each frame and engaging a quadrant on said hull and means for imparting motion to said operating means to angularly move the frame.

2. In an aircraft, the combination with a hull, of angularly movable wheel carrying frames, quadrants with which the lower ends of said frames engage, the quadrants having notches, teeth or .thelike, gear wheels mounted in said frames, means for rotating -said gear wheels and a transverse operating j shaft operatively connected to said means.

3. In an aircraft, the combination with a hull, of angularly movable wheel carrying frames, quadrants with which the lower ends of the frames engage, gear wheels carried'by said frames and engaging notches or holes in said quadrants, rotatable rods supported in said frames and connected to said gear Wheels, means for rotating said rods and means for causing the frames to be held against unrequited angular movement.

4. In an aircraft, the combination with a hull, of angularly movable wheel carrying,

frames, quadrantsfat the sides of said hull, engaged by said frames, rotatable rods mounted in said frames carrying at their lower ends, gear wheels for engaging with said quadrants,worm gearing at the upper end of each rod and a transverse operating shaft for imparting movement to the worm gearing to rotate the saidrods and the gear wheel so as to impart 'angular'movement to said frames.

5. In an aircraft, the combination with a hull, of angularly movable wheel carrying frames pivoted on brackets extending from the sides of said hull, quadrants on said hull, lugs on said frames for engaging with said quadrants, rotatable ro ds carried by said frames-and having gear wheels for engaging with the quadrants, Worm gearing at the upper ends of said rods, a transverse operating shaft connected to said worm gearing.

6. In an aircraft, the combination with a hull, of angularly movable wheel carrying frames, quadrants on said 111111 engaged by thelower ends of said frames, rotatable rods carried-f.,.;by said frames and having gear wheels; for engaging with said quadrants, worm? wheels at the upper ends of said rods engaged by worms on spindles connected to a transverse operating shaft. 7. In an aircraft, the combination witha hull, of angularly movable wheel-carrying frames pivoted at their upper ends on brackets extending from the side's of the hull, such frames being parallel with the sides (if the hull and comprising parallel tubes on which a slidable wheel carrier is mounted to cooperate with a shock absorber, quadrantspn said hull, lugs on said frames engaging withsaid rod engaged by a worm, the axis'of" which is in alinement with the axis of rotation of the wheel carrying frames,'aspindle carrying said worm wheel and an operatlng shaft connected to said spindle.

' 8. In an aircraft the combination-with a hull, of angularly movable wheel carrying frames pivoted at their upper ends at the lower ends. of the frames engage, means on said frames disposed in position for engaging with the quadrants substantially in alinement with the axis of the wheel, a transverse operating shaft, and ,means whereby said frames may be operated from said shaft, which means servev also to retain the frames against unrequired angular movement.

9. In an aircraft, the combination with a hull, of angularly movable wheel carrying frames pivotally mounted at the sides of the hull, means for swinging the frames to operative and inoperative positions, quadrants on the hull with which the lower ends ofthe 9'5 sides of the hull, quadrants with which the frames engage, means on said frames for enga ing with the quadrant atpoints substantia' 1y in'alinement withthe axes of the wheels engaging with I said quadrants to angularly. move saidframes andmean's forretaining the frames against unrequited frames, quadrants with which the lower ends of said frames engage, lugs on said frames and provided with grooves for enabling themto be slidably fitted to said quadrants and to prevent lateral movement ofsaid frames,- a transverse operating shaft and means. whereby said frames may be operated from said shaft, i Y

', 11.71nana'ircraft, the combination with a quadrants with which the lower ends of said hu l1,'.of angularly movable wheel carrying frames engage and means for engaging said frames each comprising parallel 'members-ouadrantsto impart angular movement to 10 having attached thereto a cross bar, a slidsaid frames.

5 able member on said frame carrying the' wheelsupporting axle and a cross bar, elas REGINALD KIRS HAW PIERSON.

' "tic strands surrounding" said cross bars, 4 THOMAS SMITH DUNCAN. 

